Howard b



Patented Sept. 24, 18-95.

lllllllll III A (No Model.)

H. B. STOUT.

, GURLING IRON.

HOIVARD l3. STOUT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STOUT FACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MANU- CURQLINGI-V-AIRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,883, dated September 24, 1895.

Application filed June 25, 1894. Serial No. 515,585. (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD B. STOUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curling-Irons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in curling-irons, and its object is to simplify, cheapen, and render more efiicient the construction of such irons.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction herein described, and set forth in the accompanying claims.

Like letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the implement. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the handle and operating sleeve or button in section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4., Fig. 2.

In order to meet the demands of the general public, it is necessary that the implement for curling the hair, commonly called a curlingiron, shall be simple and cheap in construction and at the same time embody those characteristics which are necessary to make it efficient in use.

One of the features of the curling -iron which has heretofore been found desirable is that the iron shall be capable of rotation in its handle and of ready manipulation for that purpose, and another recognized feature of merit is that the clasp may be easily operated from a device which shall be maintained always in the same relative position to the finger of the operator. These advantageous features of construction have been heretofore singly secured in independent irons, and it is the aim of the present invention to combine both features in a single iron and at the same time maintain a simplicity of construction, and thereby secure ease in operation and economy in manufacture.

In the drawings, A designates the iron or mandrel, which is of proper metal and extends to and is swiveled in a handle B in any convenient manner. The handle 13 is of suitable material; but for a cheap implement I prefer wood, because of its economy and nonconducting properties. The handle may have formed in it recess B, which may be closed by a suitable cover C. This recess may be utilized for holding hairpins and other similar articles. In order to avoid the tangling up of such hairpins or other similar articles with the rotatable end of the mandrel, there may be provided a block F to cover said end. In the present instance the mandrel is shown as provided with a loose washer or collar a, which is properly secured thereto and serves to prevent the end thereof from pulling out of the handle. The clasp is pivoted to the mandrel in any suitable manner, such as by the pin a and the clasp or clamp a serves when closed to hold the strand of hair against the iron or mandrel in the usual manner. This clasp may be provided with an extension a extending upwardly from the same at an angle, to which may be secured by pivot a a short link G, which latter in turn may be pivoted in the walls of a slot h, formed in an operating sleeve or button D. In the present instance the reduced end of the sleeve or button D is designated by the reference-sign D. This sleeve or button D is preferably, but not necessarily, of the general form shown in the drawings and secured rigidly to the iron or mandrel in such a way that it may be slid freely thereon.

A pin II is illustrated as a part of the mandrel and as being arranged to move in the narrow slot h of the sleeve or button, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Generically, the device which is used to operate the clasp and rotate the mandrel may be designated as the operating handle or device, in contradistinction to the fixed handle B. The operating handle or button is retracted manually to open the clasp, and of course the opposite movement thereof will serve to close the clasp, although it is preferred to close the clasp by some means, such as a spring. In the present instance a coiled spring is shown as arranged between the inner end of the fixed handle B and the nearest side of the operating handle or sleeve or button D.

From the foregoing description of the construction it is evident that the implement as a whole is very simple and economical, and

that it embodies the two advantageous characteristics of a rotatable iron and a clasp, the

operating end of which always occupies the same relation to the hand of the operator, and that, furthermore, a single operating handle or button is employed to bring into action both operations.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of the invention with out departing from the spirit and principle thereof.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a hair curling implement, the combination with the usual handle, of a mandrel rotatably mounted with relation to such handle,a clasp pivoted upon the mandrel, a sleeve or button, free to slide on the mandrel, but fixed thereto with reference to the rotary movement, said slide being also connected with the clasp, whereby it may serve as the manipulating handle for both rotating the mandrel and actuating the clasp; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a hair curling implement, the combination with the usual handle, of a mandrel rotatably mounted with relation to such handle, a clasp pivoted to such handle, a sleeve or button splined t0 the mandrel and connected to the clasp; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hair curling implement, the combination with the usual handle, of a mandrel rotatably mounted with relation to such handie, a clasp pivoted to such handle, amanipulating sleeve encircling such mandrel and splined thereto, and connected with the clasp, and a spring for returning the clasp to its closed position; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a hair curling implement, the combi 

